Laporte-Estela Guillermo, Rivera-Vélez Manuel, Ayala-Rodriguez Paulette, Marrero-Quiñones Gabriela Nichole, Rodriguez-Castro Zindie, Cortes-Castro Cynthia, Armaiz-Pena Guillermo N, Castro-Figueroa Eida M
Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Scienes University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA.
School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Aug 21;13(16):2075. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13162075.
Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Puerto Rico, patients face additional burdens due to the structural inequalities affecting access to employment, nutritious food, and mental health services. This study examined the associations between employment status, perceived economic hardship, dietary behaviors, and depressive symptoms among 334 adult cancer patients in Puerto Rico.
Using a cross-sectional design, participants provided sociodemographic data, dietary patterns, and self-reports of depression.
Statistical analyses revealed that full-time employment was associated with a higher consumption of low-nutritional-value foods (ρ = 0.157, = 0.015) and significant differences in their consumption having a higher mean against unemployment were observed (mean ranks = 146.09 and 177.08, = 0.010). A higher employment status also served as a protective factor against depression ( = 0.005). A higher body mass index (BMI) was linked to an increased risk of depression ( = 0.002), and perceived economic hardship was significantly associated with depression (OR= 0.54, = 0.033).
The findings underscore the necessity for comprehensive interventions that account for the synergistic effects of economic perception, employment, nutrition, and psychological well-being in cancer treatment in Puerto Rico.
癌症仍然是全球发病和死亡的主要原因。在波多黎各，由于影响就业、营养食品和心理健康服务获取的结构性不平等，患者面临着额外的负担。本研究调查了波多黎各334名成年癌症患者的就业状况、感知到的经济困难、饮食行为和抑郁症状之间的关联。
采用横断面设计，参与者提供社会人口学数据、饮食模式和抑郁自评报告。
统计分析显示，全职工作与低营养价值食物的较高消费量相关（ρ = 0.157， = 0.015），并且观察到其消费量存在显著差异，全职工作者的平均消费量高于失业者（平均秩次 = 146.09和177.08， = 0.010）。较高的就业状况也是预防抑郁的一个保护因素（ = 0.005）。较高的体重指数（BMI）与抑郁风险增加有关（ = 0.002），并且感知到的经济困难与抑郁显著相关（OR = 0.54， = 0.033）。
研究结果强调了在波多黎各的癌症治疗中采取综合干预措施的必要性，这些措施应考虑经济认知、就业、营养和心理健康的协同效应。
